Sycamore Ward 1 Alderman Gary Waight resigns

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(Felix Sarver - fsarver@shawmedia.com)

First Ward Alderman Gary Waight attends his last Sycamore City Council meeting on Monday, July 15 at the Sycamore Center, 308 W. State Street. Waight served as an alderman since he was elected in April 2011 and is leaving to spend more time with his family.

SYCAMORE – Gary Waight, who has served for two years as a Sycamore alderman, is leaving the City Council.

Waight said living more closely to his six grandchildren holds stronger appeal than continuing on as the First Ward alderman for the city. He is moving to Naperville and said that at this stage in his life, he wanted to be able to take time off and not feel guilty about missing important city meetings.

“I think if you take on a job like this, you got to be able to do your homework and come to the meetings and be responsive to the people in your ward,” Waight said.

Waight received recognition at Monday’s City Council meeting for the service he provided since being elected in April 2011. Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy said First Ward residents have been served well.

“He has championed sidewalks, sidewalk repairs and safe foot traffic in not only his ward, but also in his city,” Mundy said.

The First Ward, which is on the eastern side of Sycamore, is the oldest in the city and the one in need of sidewalk and street repairs, Waight said. His attention to sidewalk issues is something he hopes the people remember him for.

The City Council has a strong membership and good mix of people and are concerned about the life of the city and care for the community there.

“I think this city is in really good hands from the leadership right on down to the departments,” Waight said.

Waight said he would miss Sycamore.

“I wish we could take our house in Naperville and move it 35 miles east because we have some really nice neighbors,” he added.

With Waight leaving, the mayor has 60 days to fill that aldermanic seat. Candidates need to have resided in the First Ward for at least a year, be qualified to vote in Sycamore, not have tax debt or owe debt to the city, and not have a felony conviction.

Mundy said he was consulting with Sycamore City Manager Brian Gregory and Alan Bauer, who also represents the First Ward, on the replacement. The selection will be a team effort, with the mayor appointing a new alderman with advice and consent of the city council, Mundy said.

“Hopefully it will be somebody who is familiar with how the city operates and wants to see the good service that Alderman Waight has provided,” Mundy said.

Anyone interested in becoming the First Ward alderman can contact Mundy at 815-895-4517.